Jamshedpur, Aug. 9 : As mark of protest against the overloading check drive started by district transport department and traffic police, a section of school van operators in the city remained on strike on Thursday. Parents had a harrowing time as van operators remained off the roads.

Hundreds of parents who rely on vans as means to reach their children school had to face tough situation when van operators refused to move ahead.

The drive against overloading of school children in auto-rickshaws and vans began following the instruction of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner.

The district transport office and traffic police have confiscated and penalised as many as about 75 vehicles by conducting surprise raids at various points close to any public school.

The drive which is aimed at not only to curb the over-loading, but also to check the fitness of the vehicles, driving license and insurance papers of the pool car operators.

The police are acting against the van operators after receiving regular complains of city school vans being packed with students — their bags tied on the roof of the vehicles.

Traffic movement was affected at Straight Mile Road near Baug-E-Jamsheed square which had presence of four schools namely Baug-E-Jamsheed, Motilal Nehru Public School, Rajendra Vidyalaya and Dayanand Public School.

Traffic jams was witnessed near Inner Circle Road near DAV Public School in Contractors Area of Bistupur, Kharkhai Link Road near St Mary’s English School in Bistupur.

According to officials of transport department in order to garner more returns the van operators take in large number of children opposite to the capacity of the vans. This may result to a major accident any time. This is the prime reason they have acted against them.

Prior to this, as the day started parents were seen carrying children on their personal vehicles. While many complained against the attitude of the van operators there were few who voiced support to the operators.

“I am socked to hear their decision. The van operators have refused to carry our children. I have no choice but to carry my daughters to Sacred Heart Covent School on my bike, said Shailendra Singh, a resident of Sakchi.

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